Chapter 508

Chapter 508

The abrupt arrival of the Legion Commander caused Lunia’s expression to turn completely rigid.

It was Elzenie, the Queen of Blood.

She counted among those legendary, terrifying entities whose very existence sent tremors of dread across the land.

‘To encounter a Legion Commander under these circumstances!’

Lunia ground her teeth in frustration.

Memories of the previous year’s catastrophic event surged back. It was the devastating onslaught led by Shilathuna, the Monster Queen. On top of that catastrophe came the revival of a Legion Commander—a nightmare that the ancient Great Heroes had once sealed away.

The sheer helplessness she had experienced during that crisis threatened to paralyze her now. If those legendary figures hadn’t intervened back then, the kingdom of Seyrun would have fallen into absolute ruin.

While Lunia stood there frozen in anxiety, Luna merely tilted her head in confusion.

“A Legion Commander? You?”

Skepticism flashed across Luna’s expression.

“I can tell you’re a formidable fiend, but is a Legion Commander really this underwhelming nowadays?”

“What did you say?”

Elzenie’s features instantly contorted with rage.

Lunia likewise whipped around to stare at Luna, her mind completely blank with shock.

“Lunia, are you absolutely certain that thing is a Legion Commander?”

Hearing the utter lack of conviction in Luna’s voice, Lunia found herself answering automatically.

“Yes… that is Elzenie, the Queen of Blood. There is no doubt that she holds the rank of Legion Commander.”

“I see.”

Luna crossed her arms, angling her head as she pondered aloud to herself.

“Have the benchmarks for becoming a Legion Commander plummeted that drastically in this era…?”

“Insolent brat! What nonsense is that elf child spouting?!”

Furious sparks erupted within Elzenie’s gaze.

Gwoooooo—!

A tempest of immense, corrupted sorcery began to swirl violently.

Flash—! Whoosh—!

A torrent of dark, crimson-tinted fire surged forward, completely swallowing Luna.

“Lady Luna!”

Panic seized Lunia as she screamed out the elf’s name.

Whoosh—!

Yet, in that exact heartbeat, the swirling dark-red inferno condensed harmlessly above Luna’s open hand.

Elzenie’s face fell into utter disbelief at the sight.

Amused, Luna casually spun the spheres of fire across her fingertips, offering a sweet, mocking grin before tossing them back toward Elzenie.

“This is useless to me, so you can have it back.”

Whoosh—!

The redirected flames dissolved back into the surrounding air without causing harm.

“Who… what sort of entity are you?”

Noticing the newfound caution in Elzenie’s questioning glare, Luna’s lips parted into a confident smirk.

“I am Luna, the first progenitor of the Nebula.”

“Have you lost your mind, elf?”

“You certainly talk big for someone so utterly ignorant.”

Luna’s smirk widened.

“Tell me, did that hideous abomination of a Monster Queen raise you to be this foul-mouthed?”

Gwoooooo—!

A torrential wave of magical energy erupted from Luna’s outstretched arm.

Flash—!

Pure terror finally gripped Elzenie’s expression.

Kwagagagang—!

Blinding columns of celestial light cascaded violently from the heavens.

‘To manifest a spell of such catastrophic scale in a mere instant…!’

An icy dread washed over Elzenie’s entire form.

In that fraction of a second, the image of a certain human flashed vividly through Elzenie’s consciousness.

‘Leo Flov… the reincarnated vessel of the enduring champion, Kyle…!’

The overwhelming might of that human perfectly aligned with the terrifying presence of the elf standing right before her.

“Ah… of course… that explains everything.”

Elzenie’s eyes rolled back in realization.

“Yes… it’s you… You truly are Luna, the ancient ancestor of the Nebula…!”

Elzenie’s physical form began to vibrate unsteadily.

Observing this strange reaction, Luna focused her gaze intently.

“That phenomenon is…”

“What is happening to her right now?”

Lunia dashed over to position herself right next to Luna.

“Think of it as a manifestation of divine possession.”

“Divine possession?”

“Correct. She is pulling power directly from Erebus, their patron deity. It grants demons a massive surge in capability.”

“But… but isn’t that primordial malice supposed to be securely imprisoned…?!”

“It operates as a lingering manifestation of intent, you see.”

Luna mentally reviewed the explanations Leo had shared with her previously.

‘Leo mentioned that Erebus harbored an intense animosity toward Kyle. Naturally, that hatred extends to me as well.’

“It is true that my life ended by Erebus’s hand. However, I certainly did not go down without a fierce struggle.”

The severe injuries Luna had inflicted upon Erebus during her final moments were the precise vulnerabilities that ultimately enabled Leo to strike the deity down.

‘The resentment he harbors toward me must be unfathomable.’

That very malice, preserved by Erebus, was currently acting as a catalyst through the body of the Legion Commander standing before them.

“This works out perfectly. Perhaps I can finally vent the frustrations I’ve carried for five millennia.”

A suffocating, lethal aura began to radiate outwardly from Luna.

Feeling the sheer weight of it, Lunia found herself gasping for breath.

‘Her presence is fundamentally distinct from either Leo or Lord Arion.’

The energy Leo unleashed was a savage, tearing force that felt as though it would rip an opponent to shreds.

Arion possessed a piercing, razor-sharp intent that seemed capable of slicing through reality at any second.

In stark contrast, Luna’s pressure felt like an absolute force of annihilation, built to completely eradicate anything that dared cross her path.

Staring at Luna’s back, Lunia reached out without even realizing what she was doing.

Squeeze—

“Hm? Is something the matter, Lunia?”

Noticing the young girl gripping the edge of her attire, Luna glanced back with a bewildered expression.

“The last time… Lord Arion… he tapped into an overwhelming reservoir of power and faded away completely.”

Hearing those words, Luna’s eyelids twitched slightly in surprise.

“During the previous battle against the Monster Queen, when you unleashed the End, you vanished from this world, Lady Luna… This feels exactly like what happened back then, doesn’t it?”

Lunia had not risen to the position of student council president at Seyrun during her second year through raw capability alone. Though she could be somewhat abrasive, she possessed natural leadership traits and was a highly perceptive, brilliant scholar.

Given her remarkable analytical skills, deciphering Luna’s current predicament was simple for someone like her.

Because of this, an instinctual dread gripped her heart.

‘The moment Lady Luna exerts her true strength… she will fade away.’

From the very beginning, altering reality to allow an ancient Great Hero to manifest in the modern era demanded an immense price.

Unlike her previous manifestation, Luna was no longer anchoring herself through the remnants of the Hero Record; rather, she was bound to this world via a spiritual pact with Leo.

Even so, the foundation sustaining that spiritual bond relied heavily on the residual mana stored within Kometes. If that internal reservoir ran dry, Luna would lose her anchor and fail to maintain her ethereal presence in this reality.

Regardless of whether Luna still harbored a desire to remain in this current timeline, the reality remained unchanged.

“Yes, your deduction is correct.”

“I… I truly wish for you to remain with us in this era for much longer, Lady Luna.”

Lunia’s voice cracked with emotion as she spoke.

“There is still so much I wish to discover under your guidance, and I want to spend more time by your side.”

Lunia clenched her jaw firmly.

“I genuinely want you to experience and enjoy the tranquil world you fought so hard to create.”

“……”

Luna’s gaze softened, reflecting a momentary vulnerability.

The earnest plea of the young elf struck a deep chord within her soul. After all, that quiet life was precisely what Luna yearned for the most.

“However, if that creature isn’t brought down immediately, countless innocent lives will be lost.”

Luna gestured toward Elzenie, whose body was currently radiating an increasingly volatile and abnormal energy.

“You do not need to shoulder that burden alone,” Lunia stated with absolute certainty.

“Because even in this current generation, champions still walk among us.”

Whoosh—! Kwaaaaaak—!

“Take this!”

A massive broadsword wielded by a sturdy dwarven combatant carved cleanly through a wave of dark-red fire.

“Aqua Will.”

Swaaaaa—!

A spell cast by a human sorcerer manifested a protective barrier, shielding nearby citizens from the scorching embers that threatened to incinerate the district.

“Gales of the wild, guide the survivors to safety.”

A beastkin spiritualist summoned a multitude of wind entities to transport the unconscious bystanders out of harm’s way.

Luna recognized their nature instantly. Every single individual stepping up was a warrior whose exploits earned them a place within the Hero Record.

Lunia extended her arm outward.

“Renea.”

Amidst a violent burst of heat, a magnificent avian phoenix materialized.

Whoosh—!

Lunia’s hair shifted dramatically into a crown of radiant white embers.

Observing the transformation, Luna’s lips parted slightly in silent awe.

‘The first time I encountered this child… it was roughly a year ago, wasn’t it?’

Back then, they had combined their efforts to neutralize a lingering shard of Erebus’s essence. She also reflected on the brutal struggles they endured during the conflict with Zerdia.

‘I recognized that she had grown considerably since our first meeting, but I never anticipated her reaching this level of mastery.’

“Please, rest easy,” Lunia declared confidently.

“Place your faith in us. Even if we have our shortcomings… there are many here who gladly walk the path forged by you and the ancient Great Heroes.”

Lunia marched resolutely toward Elzenie.

“Lady Luna, please remain back and witness our strength.”

Due to the ongoing Twilight Festival, Lumeria City was currently teeming with an immense gathering of people. Among the crowds were numerous accomplished warriors immortalized in the annals of history.

Luna’s eyes shimmered with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.

“Is it truly alright for me… to leave this burden to them?”

“Without a doubt! Lady Luna, please observe from a secure distance!”

Offering a radiant, reassuring grin, Lunia charged directly into the fray, her voice echoing across the plaza.

“I am Lunia El Rundia of Seyrun! That creature is none other than Elzenie, the Blood Legion Commander!”

“To think a demon would dare strike Lumeria City during our sacred Twilight Festival—what utter arrogance!”

A human knight of heroic standing bellowed out in pure outrage.

From all corners of the plaza, exceptional warriors continued to converge, forming a unified front to suppress Elzenie.

Right at that moment, several voices called out near Luna.

“Young lady, fall back immediately. This zone is highly volatile!”

A group of elven spellswords quickly arrived to escort Luna toward the rear lines.

“This battlefield is no place for a civilian!”

Mistaking Luna for an ordinary festival attendee, the guards urgently ushered her away alongside the fleeing crowds.

“Ah…”

It wasn’t merely the renowned warriors stepping up to fight. Countless everyday individuals were actively risking themselves to safeguard those around them.

As she was carried along with the retreating populace, Luna quietly murmured to herself.

‘It really is safe to entrust the future to them, isn’t it?’

Her gaze shimmered with a newfound warmth.

‘A little while longer… I can actually remain present in this beautiful era, can’t I?’

Luna bit her lower lip, fighting back her emotions.

‘It’s perfectly fine for me to cherish this peaceful happiness just a bit longer, right?’

Gwoooooo—!

Directly over Lumerne, the academy situated at the center of the expansive Lake Lumeria, an immense and oppressive shroud of black clouds coalesced.

Rumble—!

The deep, unsettling roar of thunder reverberated through the air.

As the day’s academy sessions concluded, students who had been preparing to cross over to Lumeria City for the Twilight Festival began whispering among themselves as they exited the facilities.

“What… what is happening out there?”

Karl muttered, his expression filled with deep confusion.

Standing nearby, Airan offered an answer, her voice trembling slightly with anxiety.

“This atmosphere… it feels exactly like the outbreak of the Seyru War last year.”

Hearing her shuddering comparison, the expressions of the surrounding pupils instantly turned grim.

“This is the manifestation of the Curse of Severance.”

“Eek! Professor Mel?!”

Karl gasped in sudden realization.

During their recent summer break, while working to suppress a remnant shard of Erebus’s power, Karl and Chelsea had discovered that Mel’s true identity was actually Melina.

Mel offered Karl a gentle, knowing smile before turning her attention back to the sky.

“This particular signature… it belongs to the Necrolord.”

“The… the Necrolord!”

At the mere mention of the supreme ruler of Tartarus, Karl uttered an alarmed cry.

‘Lord Leo mentioned that the Necrolord’s influence had been expanding rapidly, but to think it would reach here…’

Flash—! Thud—!

Suddenly, three figures descended abruptly from the darkened heavens, impacting the ground below.

“W-what are those things?”

“Who on earth are they?!”

The gathering students looked on with expressions of utter bewilderment. However, the moment the dark, suffocating pressure from the newcomers washed over the courtyard, everyone’s faces turned pale.

“Are those… undead?”

Faced with the immediate hostility radiating from the student body, the three figures ignored the crowd and walked directly toward a specific individual.

“It has been quite some time, Dragon Lord.”

The figure speaking from the center caused the entire student assembly to turn toward Mel in absolute astonishment.

“What did he just call her?”

“Professor Mel is actually what?”

Faced with an opponent who had just exposed her ancient heritage to the public, Mel let out a weary, profound sigh.

“It has indeed been a long time, Lord Methelar.”

“Methelar? Hold on a moment! Wasn’t Methelar the legendary figure who once directed Lumerne?!”

“That is definitely the exact likeness from the historical portraits in the hall…!”

Realizing they were standing in the presence of a legendary champion from generations past, the students’ eyes went wide with shock. However, as the dense, corrupt energy poured from his physical form, their awe quickly transformed into grim realization.

It wasn’t just Methelar standing there. The two companions flanking him were also renowned historical icons whose grand achievements were well-documented within the Hero Record from ages past.

As the crowd stood paralyzed by the revelation, Mel spoke up calmly.

“Did you all harbor such immense resentment?”

Mel questioned them, her facial features remaining entirely unreadable.

“Simply because you were deemed unready to challenge the realm of Creation.”

Upon hearing Mel’s remarks, the features of the three resurrected champions contorted into expressions of pure malice.

“We came to demand an answer from you. Why did you deliberately bypass us?!”

At Methelar’s furious demand, Mel let out a hollow, mocking laugh.

“It was never a matter of rejecting you. My intentions were solely focused on safeguarding your lives. I simply refused to send celebrated champions who had accomplished great things straight into a fatal trap.”

“To surpass one’s boundaries. That has always been the core doctrine of Lumerne. We were merely attempting to uphold that legacy.”

“At the time, I chose to view your insistence as reckless bravery. Looking back now, I see the truth. It was nothing more than empty vanity, driven by a desperate thirst for prestige.”

In a bygone age, Mel had genuinely evaluated the warriors standing before her as prospective allies to venture into the realm of Creation. Unfortunately, their capabilities had plateaued before reaching the required threshold. Despite their limitations, they demanded to proceed anyway, forcing Mel to ultimately deny their request.

That denial festered into a deep, corrupted grudge, which ultimately drove them to bind their souls to the Necrolord.

A look of profound revulsion settled into Mel’s gaze.

“For individuals who claim to revere the sacred principles of Lord Lumerne, to willingly degrade yourselves into thralls of the Necrolord… do you not perceive the utter hypocrisy in your actions?”

“The blame lies entirely with you.”

Pure venom manifested across Methelar’s features.

“Because you denied us our rightful opportunity! Everything that happened is your fault!”

Watching him lunge forward in a blind, vengeful fury, Mel casually flicked her hand.

An overwhelming torrent of raw magic erupted, easily swatting Methelar aside.

Kwagagagang—!

Methelar’s body crashed violently into the facade of a nearby campus structure.

As if signaling an all-out assault, a legion of skeletal and decayed warriors began clawing their way out from beneath the earth.

In response, the students of Lumerne immediately drew their armaments and assumed defensive formations.

Mel cast her gaze upward into the swirling vortex of the sky, her eyes narrowing into cold slits.

“So this is the opening move you’ve chosen to play, Necrolord.”

Leo slowly blinked his eyes open.

‘I am trapped within the deceptive realm of the Mirror Queen.’

The scenery around him perfectly mirrored the bustling avenues of Lumeria City. However, Leo was fully conscious of the fact that this environment was entirely fabricated.

As Leo was experimentally opening and closing his fist to test his senses, a voice called out.

“Kyle.”

Hearing the familiar greeting from behind, Leo turned around to face the speaker.

“Lishinas?”

Recognizing the face of his old companion, Leo’s eyebrows knit together in suspicion.

During his previous encounter within the Mirror Queen’s deceptive domain, he had been forced to square off against an imitation of Lishinas.

Leo instantly braced himself, adjusting his posture for an impending confrontation.

“Tell me, how does it feel? What is it like to have successfully preserved the fate of the world on two separate occasions?”

“What?”

Staring back at Lishinas, who was offering a bright, cheerful grin, Leo could only manifest an expression of utter perplexity.